Tutorial on Introduction to
biostatistics

Biostatistical tools are necessary in research since it is
almost impossible to study an entire population because of the scarcity of
resources such as money, time etc or due to a desire to expose only the minimal
number of subjects to the risks involved with certain clinical trials. When an
entire population cannot be studied, then a part of the population (i.e.
sample) is examined.

When the researcher studies the sample and draws
inferences about the population, serious errors can result if the sample is not
truly representative of the larger population.

Biostatistical tools help the researcher to overcome this
bias and help draw valid conclusions about the population with a defined level
of confidence. Biostatistics has a role in each phase of the research. Let us
start with the first stage of research - planning.

Use of biostatistical tools in planning research

After identifying and defining the problem, the researcher
decides on the type of study design to follow. Once the type is determined, the
variables have to be identified and classified before proceeding to the next
step of developing a hypothesis in the case of experimental study. The
variables can be categorized by their nature, type and scales of measurement,
i.e. independent or dependent, quantitative or qualitative, types such as
nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio scales and so on. The nature of the
variables will have a significant effect on data collection and analysis.